People on DR1 gave me great advice a couple of years ago about a wedding I was part of In Sosua. Here I am again, looking for suggestions and ideas.
We have booked a one-week AI stay at Natura Park EcoResort (Nov. 20 to 27/15). The description says it is near Laguna Bavaro, Punta Cana. While we expect to have a fine time in the resort, we don't like to stay inside the walls all the time. We've visited the DR many times, but always on the north coast; the west coast is new to us. We're not big fans of "excursions." They're expensive, and besides, you spend all your time with fellow tourists being steered to the places the organizer wants to bring you to. On the north coast, we've happily taken the gaugua into a nearby town (or sometimes a taxi or a publico) and then enjoyed wandering around, maybe having a drink, and buying some coffee and rum in a supermercado to bring back home. Sometimes we rented a small motorcycle and toured the area just enjoying the different landscape and the small towns we passed through. (This was always in the area of Puerto Plata). We're not interested in night life, as we're in our early 70's, but we're healthy, like walking, and like to get away from the artificiality of the resort culture and get a sense of the place we're visiting.
We don't know the southeast part of the DR at all. Is there a gaugua we can take, and if so, what town is not too far away for a visit this way? Could we arrange for a driver to take us around, show us some of the nearby sights (what are they?) I don't like to ask at the resort, because they'll just direct us to their taxis or their preferred excursions, which are usually overpriced. But we'd be happy to pay a local person to drive us for half a day to show us some local spots of interest. I get the feeling renting a small motorcycle is not a good idea (read about some of the perils on other threads). Is that correct?
We do really like the DR and Dominicans, and do fine with our bad Spanish and some good will. We're not fearful, but if there are places we should avoid or things we shouldn't do, it would be good to know that.
The advice you gave me last time on DR1 was great, and very kindly given. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can give us this time.
Lindy
We have booked a one-week AI stay at Natura Park EcoResort (Nov. 20 to 27/15). The description says it is near Laguna Bavaro, Punta Cana. While we expect to have a fine time in the resort, we don't like to stay inside the walls all the time. We've visited the DR many times, but always on the north coast; the west coast is new to us. We're not big fans of "excursions." They're expensive, and besides, you spend all your time with fellow tourists being steered to the places the organizer wants to bring you to. On the north coast, we've happily taken the gaugua into a nearby town (or sometimes a taxi or a publico) and then enjoyed wandering around, maybe having a drink, and buying some coffee and rum in a supermercado to bring back home. Sometimes we rented a small motorcycle and toured the area just enjoying the different landscape and the small towns we passed through. (This was always in the area of Puerto Plata). We're not interested in night life, as we're in our early 70's, but we're healthy, like walking, and like to get away from the artificiality of the resort culture and get a sense of the place we're visiting.
We don't know the southeast part of the DR at all. Is there a gaugua we can take, and if so, what town is not too far away for a visit this way? Could we arrange for a driver to take us around, show us some of the nearby sights (what are they?) I don't like to ask at the resort, because they'll just direct us to their taxis or their preferred excursions, which are usually overpriced. But we'd be happy to pay a local person to drive us for half a day to show us some local spots of interest. I get the feeling renting a small motorcycle is not a good idea (read about some of the perils on other threads). Is that correct?
We do really like the DR and Dominicans, and do fine with our bad Spanish and some good will. We're not fearful, but if there are places we should avoid or things we shouldn't do, it would be good to know that.
The advice you gave me last time on DR1 was great, and very kindly given. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can give us this time.
Lindy